Privatization

Why do we forget about the real costs of privatization? Looking beyond short-term benefit, this trend is detrimental to individuals and communities.

The transfer of publicly-owned assets or publicly-run operations from public to private control. Those pushing privatization often claim that for-profit businesses are more efficient or can do things at a lower cost. Initial bids often support this claim, but experiences shows that after the initial period, privatization almost always costs considerably more.

by Paul Buchheit With the breakdown of the private financial industry, and with the decision by corporations to stop meeting their tax responsibilities, and with the dramatic surge in tax haven abuse, less tax revenue is available to state and … more →

Allentown Environmental Advisory Council May 13, 2012 On March 29, 2012 Allentown signed a 35-year contract with a private NJ company, Delta Thermo Energy (DTE), to build an incinerator on Kline’s Island in Allentown for disposal of the city’s trash … more →

Note: Much of this material was originally posted as a call to action regarding the City of Allentown’s proposal to contract with Delta Thermo Energy to build a ‘Waste to energy’ plant in downtown Allentown. That proposal was approved and … more →

Following is the first collective statement from the New York City General Assembly, issued October 5 2011. As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. … more →

If we could travel to 1961, we could listen to outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warning of the military-industrial complex. [Actually, the penultimate draft of his speech was more accurate—he called it the military-industrial-Congressional complex.] His farewell address included more than this … more →

“What if we reversed the priorities and created a society that valued life more than it valued numbers on a spreadsheet?” We reprint here Michael Carriere’s interview of Alex Knight concerning the economic crisis and the ‘end of capitalism theory’, … more →

Part 1. Crisis and Opportunity MC: The current financial crisis is clearly a moment of peril for both individuals and the broader system of capitalism. But would it also make sense to see it as a moment of opportunity? AK: … more →

Social Limits and the Crisis MC: Capitalism has faced many moments of crisis over time. Is there something different about the present crisis? What makes the end of capitalism a possibility now? AK: As I described in the last section, … more →

Important Notice - Information on this website does not necessarily represent the position of the Alliance or the views of its members. As part of our effort to promote open discussion and dialogue, we frequently post material that is of current concern, especially on subjects that are not covered in the mainstream media or if that coverage is incomplete or one-sided.